Lighting Control System with Wireless Network Connection

Abstract

Wireless network used to control multiple lights, includes multiple different networks for different purposes, and interference prevention mechanisms.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/170,080 filed Jun. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,727 issued Apr. 2, 2013, 12/830,406 filed Jul. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,967,483 issued Jun. 28, 2011, which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/748,996 filed May 15, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,878 issued Jul. 6, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/801,252, filed May 18, 2006, the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Stage lighting control systems are known, and/or described, for example, in various patents owned by Production Resource Group L.L.C. Many of these patents describe a central console being used to create commands for a number of lights collectively forming a lighting effect or lighting show. Each of the lights, for example, may be capable of projecting a light beam of 100-200 W or more, may be capable of light beam movement in pan and/or tilt directions, and light beam shaping, done by a gobo.

The connection to the lights is typically done over wires, for example using DMX, or using the so-called Arcnet protocol which provides DMX over ethernet. It has been suggested that control of lights using commands sent directly over wired ethernet may also be carried out.

SUMMARY

The present application describes wireless control of lights in a stage lighting scenario.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram showing the console connected to control a number of lights; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a light and wireless control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The general structure and techniques, and more specific embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying out the more general goals are described herein.

An embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. A lighting control console 100, which may be the PRG Virtuoso console, or may be any other console which is capable of controlling multiple remote lights.

A first connection 110 is a conventional wired connection which may connect to a number of conventional lights such as 112, 114. These conventional lights may be of a type which are only controllable via wired connections. Virtually every stage light today available is controllable in this way.

Light 112 is capable of receiving both wired connections and wireless connections. The console 100 has a wireless communication module 105 which enables connection to wireless-enabled lights such as 112.

An exemplary light 112 shown in FIG. 2 has a pan and tilt motor 202, a controller 204, and a lamp 206.

Light 118, also controlled by console 100, has a connection only via the wireless connection shown as 120.

Any of the lights 112, 114, 116, however, may be stage light type devices, that is may be remotely controllable to change their pan and tilt orientation, and thereby change the position at which the light is directed. The light may be mountable on a truss or other supporting device, and may preferably project a light beam having an intensity of at least 100 W. In addition, the light can be provided with a built-in functionality for wireless control, or may have an add-in functionality for such wireless control.

In an embodiment, the wireless device 105 may also produce two additional wireless streams. The wireless stream 125 is a private stream. The private stream 125 enables administrative functions to be carried out either on the console, or on the controlled lights.

For example, a remote 130 can connect to the private stream. The remote 130, for example, can enable a lighting designer or other operator who is operating using a laptop or tablet style computer to carry out functions on the console or the lamps. The remote may be a dedicated laptop that runs a light version of the software on the console, and accepts commands either over the keyboard, or through the mouse or other GUI based commands.

Alternatively, the remote may control using a web browser style interface, produced by the console 100, and routed to the private network 125. The web browser can run based on console software, thereby automatically updating that software whenever the main console software is updated.

A public wireless connection 130 may also be provided. The public wireless connection may be itself controlled by the console. For example, while the console controls lighting effects by the lights 112, 114, 116, 118, it has the ability to control many different lights. The public connection 130 may be intended to control yet another “light”; however this “light” can be any mobile phone, PDA or other unit that is in range of the wireless connection. In this way, the lighting designer is able to stream video and/or other show media and lighting information to the holder of the PDA.

Any PDA with 802.11 wireless capability, or other data capability such as cellular, Bluetooth or other, may also receive the lighting information. The public stream 130 may alternatively be conveyed over other formats, such as Bluetooth.

This forms three different streams of information which are sent from the console: the controlling information to the lights, the status information to a remote, and the public information. The public information may be transmitted with virtually no security, since it is intended to be received by any user in the vicinity of the information.

However, the private line 125 and the control lines 120 should be secured. The private line should be secured against hackers, since otherwise anyone with knowledge of the system could hack in and change the show or change other parameters. For example, this security may use any of the encryption protocols which are associated with the wireless networking, and preferably uses the strongest possible encryption.

However, the control protocols require not only protection against hacking, but also protection against interference. During the shows, many electronic devices are operating. Many users may have cell phones, and many persons in the audience may also have cell phones. Cell phones, and especially GSM cell phones, may cause interference. In addition, there are moving motors and other items which may cause interference. Accordingly, the stream 120 may be interference protected. This may be done by using a spread spectrum form of 802.11, for example, or by using an extremely error corrected form of 802.11. In the most extreme case, each command may be sent four or five times, and the light is instructed to respond to a command only when the command is properly received multiple times in a row.

According to another embodiment, the commands may be sent along with a hash value indicative of the commands, so that the light may compare the command with the hash value to ensure that the command was properly received. The light may send an acknowledgment when the command and hash are properly received. Otherwise, the command is eventually re-sent.

Some lights, such as 114, are legacy devices, and will not be controllable over the wireless control. Other lights, however, such as 112, will be controlled both via wired and wireless. These two different networks may form additional levels of communication for the light, and may enable other things.

Another aspect allows using any of the network connections described herein to forward digital content (which could include video content) wirelessly, using the techniques described herein.

The general structure and techniques, and more specific embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying out the more general goals are described herein.

Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventor intends these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other wireless networking protocols are contemplated, including Wimax, Zigbee, and others.

Also, the inventor(s) intend that only those claims which use the words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.

The consoles and computers described herein may be any kind of computer, either general purpose, or some specific purpose computer such as a workstation. The computer may be an Intel (e.g., Pentium or Core 2 duo) or AMD based computer, running Windows XP or Linux, or may be a Macintosh computer. The computer may also be a handheld computer, such as a PDA, cellphone, or laptop.

The programs may be written in C or Python, or Java, Brew or any other programming language. The programs may be resident on a storage medium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g. the computer hard drive, a removable disk or media such as a memory stick or SD media, wired or wireless network based or Bluetooth based Network Attached Storage (NAS), or other removable medium. The programs may also be run over a network, for example, with a server or other machine sending signals to the local machine, which allows the local machine to carry out the operations described herein.

Where a specific numerical value is mentioned herein, it should be considered that the value may be increased or decreased by 20%, while still staying within the teachings of the present application, unless some different range is specifically mentioned. Where a specified logical sense is used, the opposite logical sense is also intended to be encompassed.

Claims

1. A console, comprising:

a console device, having a processor;

said processor running a program to control at least one external device that is remote from said console device, said program controlling said at least one external device, said controlling carried out by sending commands to the at least one external device that causes a display output to be caused on said at least one external device;

said commands including at least one wireless output command, where the at least one wireless output command includes a command sent along with a hash value indicative of the command;

said processor receiving an acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicating that the command with the hash value were properly received, and resending the command and hash value if the acknowledgement is not received after a specified time.

2. The console as in claim 1, where said wireless output commanding different effects at different times.

3. The console as in claim 1, where a first part of said wireless output being directed to at least one stage device as a first external device, and a second part of said wireless output being directed to at least one hand held communication device as a second external device.

4. The console as in claim 1, wherein said command is a command to move a location of light output on said external device.

5. The console as in claim 1, wherein said acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicates that the command and the hash value agree with one another.

6. The console as in claim 3, wherein said second part of said wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one handheld communication device.

7. The console as in claim 3, wherein said wireless output is in a form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a type having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein executing said program on said processor of said console device produces effects on said moving light and moves a position of said moving light.

8. The console as in claim 7, wherein said control to said moving lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having security, and said control to said hand held communication device is sent over a second channel which does not have said security.

9. The console as in claim 8, wherein said program accepts commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from said console, over a third secured network connection, different than said first and second channels.

10. The console as in claim 1, wherein said console controls a first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless stream having a first security, and said console controls a second wireless stream for commanding functions of the console, said second wireless stream having a second security, and said console controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers within range of the console, said third wireless stream not having said first security or said second security.

11. A computer controlled device, comprising:

a controller, having a processor, controlling functions including causing a display output based on a remotely-received control;

said remotely-received control including at least one wirelessly received command, where the at least one wirelessly received command includes a command sent along with a hash value indicative of the command;

said processor operating to determine if the command with the hash value were properly received, and sending an acknowledgement if the command and the hash value were properly received.

12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said device receives a resent version of the command and hash value if the acknowledgement is not sent after a specified time.

13. The device as in claim 11, where said wirelessly received command commands the device to carry out different effects at different times.

14. The device as in claim 11, wherein said wirelessly received command is a command to move a location of light output produced by said device.

15. The device as in claim 11, wherein said processor compares that the command and the hash value agree with one another and sends said acknowledgement only when the command and hash value agree with one another.

16. The device as in claim 11, wherein said device which is a moving light of a type having a controllable motor, that allows moving it light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein said controlling produces effects on said moving light and moves a position of said moving light.

17. The device as in claim 11, wherein said control to said device is sent over a first channel having security, and a control to said handheld communication device is sent over a second channel which does not have said security.

18. A stage lighting console, comprising:

a console device, having a processor;

said processor running a program to control a first external device which is a stage device and a second external device which is a handheld device, where both said first and second external devices are remote from said console device, said controlling carried out by sending commands to both said first and second external devices that causes a display output;

said commands including at least one wireless output command, where the at least one wireless output command includes a command sent along with a hash value indicative of the command;

said console also producing a wireless output based on said running said program, said wireless output being directed both said first and second external devices.

19. The console as in claim 18, where said wireless output commanding different effects on both said first and second external devices at different times.

20. The console as in claim 18, wherein said command is a command to move a location of light output on said stage device.

21. The console as in claim 18, wherein said processor receiving an acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicating that the command with the hash value were properly received, and resending the command and hash value if the acknowledgement is not received after a specified time.

22. The console as in claim 21, wherein said acknowledgement from indicates that the command and the hash value agree with one another.

23. The console as in claim 19, wherein a second part of said wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one handheld communication device.

24. The console as in claim 20, wherein said wireless output is in a form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a type having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein running said program on said processor of said console device produces effects on said moving light and moves a position of said moving light.

25. The console as in claim 24, wherein said control to said moving lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having security, and said control to said handheld device is sent over a second channel which does not have said security.

26. The console as in claim 25, wherein said program accepts commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from said console, over a third secured network connection, different than said first and second channels.

27. The console as in claim 18, wherein said console controls a first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless stream having a first security, and said console controls a second wireless stream for commanding functions of the console, said second wireless stream having a second security, and said console controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers within range of the console, said third wireless stream not having said first security or said second security.

28. A console as in claim 18, wherein an effect commanded by said wireless output is produced in synchronism with commands for controlling at least one stage device.

29. A method of controlling an external device, comprising:

in a processor on a console, running a program to control at least one external device that is remote from said console, said program controlling said at least one external device, said controlling carried out by sending commands to the at least one external device that causes a display output to be caused on said at least one external device;

wherein said controlling comprises sending at least one wireless output command, where the at least one wireless output command includes a command sent along with a hash value indicative of the command; and

receiving an acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicating that the command with the hash value were properly received, and resending the command and hash value if the acknowledgement is not received after a specified time.

30. The method as in claim 29, where said wireless output commands different effects at different times.

31. The method as in claim 29, further comprising directing a first part of said wireless output to at least one stage device as a first external device, and directing a second part of said wireless output to at least one hand held communication device as a second external device.

32. The method as in claim 29, wherein said command is a command to move a location of light output on said external device.

33. The method as in claim 29, wherein said acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicates that the command and the hash value agree with one another.

34. The method as in claim 31, wherein said second part of said wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one handheld communication device.

35. The method as in claim 31, wherein said wireless output is in a form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a type having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein executing said program on said processor of said console produces effects on said moving light and moves a position of said moving light.

36. The method as in claim 35, wherein said control to said moving lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having security, and said control to said hand held communication device is sent over a second channel which does not have said security.

37. The method as in claim 36, wherein said program accepts commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from said console, over a third secured network connection, different than said first and second channels.

38. The method as in claim 29, wherein said console controls a first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless stream having a first security, and said console controls a second wireless stream for commanding functions of the method, said second wireless stream having a second security, and said console controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers within range of the method, said third wireless stream not having said first security or said second security.